
M.S. in Statistics - Program
Guidelines This
document
supplements the Montana
State University Graduate Catalog.
The Master of Science degree in statistics at Montana State University
gives students a solid background in the theory of statistics and
hands-on practice in the application of statistics to real problems.
Students in this program prepare either for further graduate work or
for academic, industrial, business, or government employment. Upon
entrance, each student meets with the department's Graduate Program
Committee to discuss career objectives and first year course
work. During the second semester in the program each student forms a
Graduate Committee and, with that committee, builds an outline of the
courses to be taken. The prerequisites for the master's degree program in
statistics consist of the following semester courses or their
equivalent: Multivariable Calculus (MATH 224), Linear Algebra (MATH
333 or MATH 441), Probability (STAT 421), and Mathematical Statistics
(STAT 422). Students who have not completed these courses may still
enter the master's program. It is suggested that these courses then be
taken after enrolling.
Either Plan A (thesis and 20 credits of course
work) or Plan B (30 credits of course work) can be chosen. In
either case, all courses on a graduate program must be numbered 400 or
higher, and STAT courses must be numbered 410 or higher. The specific
program of study depends on the student's previous training and
experience. Regardless of the plan chosen, (i) at least half of the
required non-thesis credits must be STAT courses, (ii) at least
two-thirds of the required non-thesis credits must be numbered 500 or
higher, and (iii) the following 14 semester core course credits are
required:
Statistics
M.S. Required
Courses (15 semester credits)
- STAT 501-502
Intermediate
Math Stat - 6 credits (prerequisite: STAT 422)
- STAT 505-506 Linear Stat
Models - 6 credits (prerequisites: MATH 333, STAT 422, & STAT
412)
- STAT 510 Statistical
Consulting
- 2 credits
- STAT 575
Research Paper or STAT 590 Thesis - 1 credit
Additional requirements
- The
M.S. degree requires
completion of either a thesis or a writing project.
-
Thesis (Plan A):
The Plan A thesis typically requires 450-500 hours
of work. The student must register for at least 10 thesis
credits (STAT 590) in addition to the required 20 credits of course
work. The student must give an oral defense of his/her thesis.
-
Writing Project (Plan
B): The Plan B writing project typically
requires at least 90 hours of work, for which the student earns 1 or 2
credits of STAT 575. With permission from the student's committee, additional
credits of STAT 575 (no more than 4 total) may be earned. The student
must give a seminar on the writing project before graduating.
-
For either Plan A or Plan B, the student must pass a comprehensive
examination.
M.S. Comprehensive Exam
The M.S. comprehensive exam is given in January before classes begin (the specific date will
be determined by the department) and consists of two segments. First a four-hour written
exam covering Stat 501, 502 and 505 plus two elective Stat courses
(see below), and second a 24 hour take home over Stat 506. Because
the exam is given in January, one of the core courses typically has
not yet been taken, so that course will be omitted from the exam.
Students must earn a B or better in the core course not included in
the exam.
The exam is graded as PhD pass, M.S. pass, or fail. Examinees will be
informed of the results within three working days of taking the exam.
-
M.S. Core Courses for the M.S. Comprehensive Exam (12 semester
credits)
- STAT 501-502 Intermediate
Probability & Statistics
- STAT 505-506 Linear
Models and Advanced Regression
- Elective Courses for
the M.S. Comprehensive Exam (6 semester credits from Stat 446, Stat
431, or 500 level electives) At the discretion of the committee, an
elective exam could be a take home exam.
The M.S. comprehensive exam may be repeated once, in which case it
will cover all four of the core courses.
At the discretion of the student's committee, an oral
exam over the M.S. course work may be required.
Copies of old
exams are available only to people on math department
computers.
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